Excerpt and Giveaway: "A Match for Marcus Cynster"

 As part of the excerpt tour for "A Match for Marcus Cynster", I have excerpt #4 along with a tour-wide giveaway!

"A Match for Marcus Cynster"
by Stephanie Laurens
Publisher: Mira
Release Date: May 26, 2015
Source: n/a

Excerpt #4:

*
It took several hours to bring both bodies up from the depths of the crevasse and transport the remains to Carrick Manor. Despite the depredations of small animals and the passage of time, Nigel’s body was easily identified. His remains were garbed in the clothes he’d worn to the wedding of their cousin, Thomas Carrick, and Lucilla Cynster—the last time anyone other than Nolan had set eyes on him.
Niniver spent the rest of that day closeted in the library with the clan council. Norris was present, too. Although he was several years younger than she and therefore had fewer memories of Nigel and Nolan as children, his assessments of their older brothers matched and supported her own.
Fact by fact, she and the council assembled the true sequence of events. Recalling a statement Nolan had made at the inquest into the Burns sisters’ deaths—an inquest that had reached no final conclusion but had left the suspicion of murder hanging over Nigel’s head—Niniver sent Sean to Ayr to pose what were now clearly pertinent questions to certain people there.
It was the following morning before Sean returned. The clan council reconvened to hear his report. Once they’d digested the no-longer-unexpected news, Ferguson turned to Niniver. “What now? Do we summon the authorities, or what?”
Seated behind the desk her father had used throughout his long reign as laird, Niniver met Ferguson’s gaze, then looked at Mrs. Kennedy, the housekeeper, seated alongside him, then at Canning, Phelps, Bradshaw, Sean, and the others on the council. All regarded her levelly, expectation in their eyes.
The vow she’d uttered over her father’s grave resonated in her mind. I will do whatever’s necessary to ensure that all mistakes made by your children are put right and that the clan is made whole, strong, and prosperous again. I will do all I can, and whatever I must, to preserve your legacy and to steer the clan as you would have wished.
It had been all she’d had to offer in reparation for her father losing his life; she hadn’t known enough to save him from being poisoned by one of his sons.
The least she could do now was to ensure the blame fell on the son who deserved it, thus clearing the name of the son who had been another victim. That way, Nigel—Manachan’s firstborn and best-loved child, the one who, despite his weaknesses, had been groomed to take the lairdship—could be buried next to Manachan in the family plot.
Yet her vow demanded she put the clan first. “We need to inform the authorities of Nolan’s death, and of all we’ve now realized. But if at all possible, I think we should endeavor to keep the matter quiet. I see no reason for the news sheets in Ayr and Dumfries, much less Glasgow and Edinburgh, to be encouraged to revisit the clan’s difficulties.”
Everyone was nodding. Phelps glanced around. “Clearly, you’ll get no argument from us on that score. The clan have suffered enough—we don’t need our dirty linen hanging out for the rest of the county to gossip about.”
Seeing agreement writ large in every face, Niniver nodded. “We’ll summon the doctor to examine the bodies—he’ll confirm what we already know. Meanwhile, I’ll send notes conveying the bare facts to…” She paused, considering, then went on, “Sir Godfrey Riddle, Lord Richard, and Thomas, and ask them to meet here this afternoon. Let’s see if we can manage things with just those three—they know the clan’s situation and will most likely be willing to help us arrange matters with the minimum of fuss.”
No one argued. Half an hour later, Sean took the notes Niniver had written and rode out to deliver them.
*

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23569724-a-match-for-marcus-cynster?from_search=true

Author's website:  http://www.stephanielaurens.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/AuthorStephanieLaurens

Purchase Links:

Amazon.com:  http://www.amazon.com/Match-Marcus-Cynster-Stephanie-Laurens/dp/0778318346

Books a Million: http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Match-Marcus-Cynster/Stephanie-Laurens/9780778318347?id=6078814212948

Barnes & Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-match-for-marcus-cynster-stephanie-laurens/1120790895?ean=9780778318347

Follow along with the rest of the tour:

http://tlcbooktours.com/2015/03/stephanie-laurens-author-of-a-match-for-marcus-cynster-on-tour-may-2015/

Tour-Wide Giveaway!!

 A lucky winner from the entire excerpt tour will win:

·        1 copy of By Winter’s Light

·        1 copy of The Tempting of Thomas Carrick

·        1 copy of A Match for Marcus Cynster

·        1 tartan-pattern infinity scarf

·        1 Fabulous Scotland candle in tin (made in Scotland!)

·        1 Harrison Tweed bag (made in Scotland!)

 OMG! I want that Harrison Tweed bag!!!!! Good luck, everyone!!

This contest and Rafflecopter widget is run by the publicist, not In the Hammock, the info you submit, prizing and emails will be handled and administrated by the publicist.

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Disclosure: I received this promotional information from the publisher and was not compensated for this post.